VOLUME 22 NUMBER 27
FREE
OCTOBER 8, 2016
Published Since April 1995 Serving DeKalb, Fulton, Gwinnett, Henry and Rockdale Counties • www.facebook.com/ocgnews
DHS to provide Rockdales welcomes first African American free counseling Juvenile Court Judge Maureen Wood By Valerie J. Morgan during Medicare ockdale County’s open enrollment Juvenile Court
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he Georgia Department of Human Services stands ready to assist older Georgians making decisions about Medicare health and prescription drug plans during this year’s Medicare open enrollment period. The enrollment period for Medicare, which serves millions of older Americans, will open Oct. 15 and end Dec. 7. The GeorgiaCares program, administered through the Department’s Division of Aging Services (DAS), is available now through the end of the enrollment period to help Georgians make informed decisions about Medicare health and prescription drug plans. GeorgiaCares is the name for Georgia’s federally-funded State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP). The program provides free, unbiased, one-onone counseling and assistance to Medicare beneficiaries as they seek to create personalized coverage solutions and understand changes in their current plans. “Understanding your options and making decisions about your medical coverage can be overwhelming, but choosing a Medicare plan is an important decision for the future of your health care,” DAS Director Abby Cox said. “GeorgiaCares is available to help all Georgia Medicare beneficiaries understand their options so they can make an informed decision about the future of their health care coverage.” Counselors are available statewide to assist with Medicare questions and offer personalized counseling through the program’s toll-free help line at 866-5524464. Callers seeking Medicare counseling should choose Option 4. Georgians can also compare plans at www.Medicare.gov, call 800-Medicare 800-633-4227 or visit www.mygeorgiacares.org to learn more. For more information about GeorgiaCares and other services available to older Georgians and their families, visit the DHS Division of Aging Services at www.aging.ga.gov or call 866-552-4464.
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Judge Maureen Wood took the reigns on Monday, filling a position formerly held by long-time Judge William Schneider. Wood was sworn into office on Sept. 30 by Chief Judge David Irwin, who apJudge Maureen Wood pointed her to the four-year position. Wood is Rockdale’s first African American to hold the seat. She is also believed to be the first female ever appointed as a Rockdale Juvenile Court judge. L-R Attorneys Sherri Washington and Tami Wells Thomas, Probate “I am looking forward to serving in my new Court Judge-Elect Clarence Cuthpert, Judge Maureen Wood and position. I’m still getting acclimated but I would like Judge Phinia Aten attend the welcome reception at Las Flores to encourage more community members to consider restaurant in Conyers. becoming mentors for the mentoring program for The Newrock Legal Society emphasizes educating youths. We also are seeing a need for foster families lawyers and community members on the law to ensure within Rockdale County. Oftentimes, our children in justice is administered fairly. foster care are placed all over the state,” said Wood. Attorney Sherri Washington, who is president-elect Wood, who completed her undergraduate work at of the Newrock Legal Society, said she, too, felt it was Spelman College in Atlanta, earned her law degree important for the organization to show its support for from University of Tennessee. She grew up in MurJudge Wood. freesboro, Tennessee. “Her appointment is historic and we wanted to Wood met her husband, David, met while she was show our support for her,” said Washington. “We at Spelman and he was attending Morehouse College. wanted to let her know that the Newrock Legal Society He is also an attorney. is here as a family to support her in all of her endeavBefore Judge Wood’s appointment to the Juvenile ors.” Court, she and her husband ran a law practice together Rockdale County’s Juvenile Court has jurisdiction that they had operated since 2006 in Rockdale. over all children under 17 who are alleged to be: The Newrock Legal Society held a welcome • Deprived (abused, neglected, abandoned, moreception for Judge Wood on Oct. 5 in Conyers. Attor- lested, etc.) ney Tami Wells Thomas, who serves as president of • Delinquent (ages 7 to 16 depending on child’s the organization, said it was important for the group maturity) to welcome Wood to the bench and give community • Unruly, runaway, truant, ungovernable or beresidents the chance to meet her and welcome her to yond parental control her new role. • Commit a moving traffic violation. “She is a founding member of the Newrock Legal Wood is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority. Society. She has been very active with the organizaShe also is a member of the child welfare law section tion, working on a number of community issues as of the state bar, the Rockdale Bar Association, Nationwell as serving on the executive board,” Thomas said. al Association of Council for Children and the Geor“We wanted to show our support for her personally gia Association of Council for Children. She and her and professionally.” husband have three daughters.
Federal funds to aid underwater mortgages
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eKalb County, in partnership with the Georgia Department of Community Affairs, announced an initiative to help approximately 150,000 Georgians reduce the principals on their underwater mortgages. “DeKalb County residents who owe more than their homes are worth can get the relief they need from this federally-funded program,” said DeKalb Interim CEO Lee May. “This program can help eligible DeKalb residents stay in their homes.” Many areas throughout the county were affected by the Great Recession as home prices plunged and the job market shrank. Through the new, limited-time, federally-funded state initiative called “Underwater Georgia,” eligible applicants may be able to receive a one-time payment of up to $50,000 to reduce the principal balance on their homes. From now until Oct. 18, homeowners can visit www. underwatergeorgia.org to determine eligibility and begin a pre-application. Because demand for the program is expected to far surpass total resources available, Underwater Georgia will
operate through a random third-party selection process. Once funds have been exhausted, the program will close. To qualify, homeowners must meet several criteria:
• The property must be your primary residence (and only home) and purchased prior to Jan. 1, 2012. • The total amount owed on all mortgages on the home must be $250,000 or less and mortgage payments have to be less than 90 days past due. • Total gross household income must not exceed 140 percent of the Area Median Income (AMI). • The property must have a total loan-to-value (LTV) ratio of at least 110 percent. • Applicants cannot have previously received assistance through HomeSafe Georgia. Representatives from the Georgia Department of Community Affairs will contact homeowners selected and work with them directly to complete a full application, which also includes submitting supporting documentation. For more information, visit www.underwatergeorgia. org, call 1-877-519-4443, or email underwatergeorgia@ dca.ga.gov.
PAGE 2 •OCTOBER 8, 2016 WWW.OCGNEWS.COM
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EDITOR/PUBLISHER Valerie J. Morgan editor@ocgnews.com
OCTOBER 8, 2016 • PAGE 3
Orrin Hudson, actress Lupita Nyong’o partner to promote new Disney film
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rrin “Checkmate” Hudson, founder of the Be Someone mentoring orADVERTISING ganization based in DeKalb MANAGER Richard S. Hill County, has been tapped to richardhill@ocgnews.com help Disney Studios proOn Common Ground News mote the new film, “Queen of Katwe,” starring the is published weekly by On Common Ground, Inc. The Academy award winning newspaper serves DeKalb, actress Lupita Nyong’o (12 Fulton, Gwinnett, Rockdale Years A Slave) and David and Henry counties. Oyelowo. The opinions expressed A national marketing by writers and contributors company working with are not necessarily those Disney selected Hudson for of the publisher or the newspaper’s advertisers. the project. He said company officials told him that No portion of this newspaper may be his reputation around the reproduced in any form country as a chess champion without the written interact with actress Lupita who mentors youths was permission of the publisher. Nyong’o during his visit to ideal for the promotion of We reserve the right Chicago where they led a the film. Hudson said he to reject material and children’s chess workshop. has worked with more than advertisements we deem “It was wonderful work50,000 youths in various inappropriate. ing with Lupita. She was school districts and proOn Common Ground awesome. She was familgrams throughout the U.S. News iar with the game of chess He said his goal is to help 1 P.O. Box 904 million children think strate- because she learned at any Lithonia, GA 30058 early age,” said Hudson, gically about their futures. (678) 526-1910 who praised Lupita for her The Disney film is Academy award-winning based on the true story of News 24/7 @ role in the film, “12 Years A a 10-year-old girl from the www.ocgnews.com Slave.” slums of Katwe, Uganda, Hudson said his life mirwho becomes a world chess rors that of the Uganda girl champion and moves her who becomes a chess chamand family out of DeKalb police seeking mother pion as a means of survival the slums. Lupita Nyong’o public’s help in and a way of getting out of plays the role of the girl’s the slums. A teacher taught mother. identity of Jane Doe Hudson how to play chess Hudson spent Sept. The DeKalb County just as a teacher taught the 12-16 touring four cities— Police Department is askyoung Phiona Mutesi, the Atlanta, Washington, D.C., ing for help from the public Chicago and Los Angeles— character in the Disney film, in identifying a ‘Jane Doe’ to promote the Disney film, how to play. Growing up found Sunday, Oct. 2, 2016 for Hudson also was tough. which was released Sept. off Wesley Chapel Road, near 30. He and his 13 siblings lived I-20. Hudson had a chance to in the housing projects of The woman is described as a Black female in her middle to late thirties. She is approximately 5-feet-5DeKalb County Superior Court Judge J.P. Boulee’ inches tall, 120-130 pounds, on Oct. 4 issued an order denying a motion to drop with black hair. She has no distinguishable markings and charges against former DeKalb policeman Robert was carrying no ID. The vic- Olsen. Olsen was accused of shooting and killing U.S. tim was discovered severely Airforce veteran Anthony Hill in March 2015 while beaten and transported to an responding to reports that Hill was naked and causing area hospital. a disturbance. Olsen, now a former DeKalb County Police offiGENERAL MANAGER Glenn L. Morgan gmorgan1@ocgnews.com
Birmingham, Alabama. “My story is the same as hers. We both got the winning edge in life because someone took the time out to change the trajectory of my life,” Hudson said. “Phiona’s coach told her, ‘Sometimes the place you are used to is not the place you belong. You belong where you believe you belong. Where is that for you?” Hudson said. “Someone took time to guide and
inspire me. It changed my life. By challenging and trusting me and helping me to understand that I can do anything I put my mind to. Now, it’s my time to pay it forward.” Hudson is an Amazon No. 1 best selling author and motivational speaker. For more information about Hudson and Be Someone, visit www.besomeone.org. 770-465-6445.
Judge denies motion to dismiss murder charge against former DeKalb officer cer, is charged with two counts of felony murder, aggravated assault, making false statements and two counts of violation of oath of public office in connection with the shooting.
Anytime Life sentence given to father for killing 6-month-old daughter Notary An Ellenwood man convicted of violently killing his However, evidence at trial from 6-month-old daughter was sentenced today to life in prison. medical experts and investigators Reginald Demarcus Johnson will spend at least 30 years found the amount of force needed to Call to in prison before having the possibility of parole. injure the baby would’ve had to Johnson, 36, was convicted in August of felony murder been equivalent to smashing schedule your and first-degree cruelty to children for the April 2015 death on ahave table or other flat surface or an of Jordan Johnson. adult stomping the baby’s head. appointment Jordan died of blunt force trauma to the head. An autop- Johnson was sentenced by sy showed that she had multiple skull fractures and bleeding DeKalb County Superior Court her brain, although Johnson told first responders that Judge Angela Barrie. 678-468-6852 inside the 6-month-old’s twin brother may have been responsible. Robert Olsen
Reginald Demarcus Johnson
PAGE 4 •OCTOBER 8, 2016 WWW.OCGNEWS.COM
Coming Up
Harriet Tubman School to host free community fish fry Harriet Tubman School for Leadership & Enterprise (HTSLE) is set to host a grand community fish fry Sunday, Oct. 16, on the school grounds located at 6980 Main St., Lithonia at 4 p.m. The event will include a free fish fry for the community and a school supply giveaway. The HTSLE leadership team will be on hand to provide information to community members about the institution’s mission to provide students with leadership and entrepreneurship training. Harriet Tubman School for Leadership and Enterprise is a non-profit organization and relies solely on donations to function effectively. For more information or to make a donation, visit: www.htsle.org or call 803-6248302. Email correspondence can be sent to harriet_tubman_school@zoho. com.
Fall Festival October 16, 2016 Flea Market & Bake Sale - 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Barbecue - 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. $8.00 - Eat In or Take Out Plate includes your choice of pork or chicken, Brunswick Stew and slaw Lithonia First United Methodist Church 3099 Stone Mountain Street Lithonia, GA 30058 (770) 483-4236
ATLANTA
.GWINNETT
Fanciful fabulous faux wedding Be a special “guest” of a beautiful staged wedding ceremony Sunday, Oct. 16, 11 a.m., in the ballroom of the Gwinnett Historic Courthouse, 185 W. Crogan St., Lawrenceville. After the ceremony, enjoy mocktails and appetizers in the Gallery Hall and meet with wedding professionals showcasing a variety of products and services. The “reception” will take place in the transformed ballroom for lunch, cake, and door prizes! This event is open to those ages 18 and older. Tickets are $17 per person and attendees must pre-register by Oct. 12 online with code GHC1141618 or call 770-822-5450.
Gwinnett hosts fall planting 101 workshop
10th annul ATL Horror Film Festival
Join Gwinnett County for its “Planting the Right Plant in the Right Place” fall planting workshop Monday, Oct. 10, 12 to 1 p.m., in the second-floor conference room of the Gwinnett County Government Annex Building, 750 South The 10th annual Atlanta Horror Film Festival will take place at the Plaza Perry St., Lawrenceville. Theatre and Mammal Gallery on Oct. 13 – 16 at the Plaza Theatre, 1049 Learn how to get the best out of the fall months to plant trees, shrubs and Ponce De Leon Ave NE. several other types of plants. The class will cover proper planting techniques, The four-day festival will showcase independent horror shorts and picking tolerable planting sites and the selection of plant material. To register feature films from new and established filmmakers. Individual films are $10 by Oct. 7, call 678-377-4011. each or attendees can purchase day passes for $20. Passes for all four days are available for $50. For the full itinerary, visit www.atlantahorrorfilmfest. ROCKDALE com.
Little Five Points Halloween Festival and Parade Celebrate the 16th annual L5P Halloween Festival and Parade Saturday, Oct. 15, 12 to 11 p.m., in Little Five Points, 2311 Emeline Place, Atlanta. Enjoy free live entertainment on two stages, shop at Little Five Points retailers and admire the best and wackiest costumes. The daylong festival includes a two-hour parade that kicks off at 4 p.m. at Euclid and Austin avenues near Horizon Theatre. The parade will feature a marching band, zombies and more. For more information, visit www. l5phalloween.com.
Free Hip-Hop festival brings music to streets of Atlanta The sixth annual Atlanta Hip Hop Day Festival will take place Saturday, Oct. 9-10, at Robert Woodruff Park, 91 Peachtree St NW, Atlanta. The free festival is a tribute to Hip Hop as well as Atlanta’s contribution to Hip Hop. The event will feature B-Boy & B-Girl exhibits, emcee battles, turntablism and graffiti artists. Guests will be entertained by some of Atlanta’s hottest DJs and performances on the main stage. There will also be a plethora of food and vendors. For more information, www.atlantahiphopday.com. .DEKALB
DeKalb Library to host series to improve technology literacy for seniors Join Gwinnett County for their “Planting the Right Plant in the Right Place” fall planting workshop Monday, Oct. 10, 12 to 1 p.m., in the second-floor conference room of the Gwinnett County Government Annex Building, 750 South Perry St., Lawrenceville. Learn how to get the best out of the fall months to plant trees, shrubs and several other types of plants. The class will cover proper planting techniques, picking tolerable planting sites and the selection of plant material. To register by Oct. 7, call 678-377-4011.
Conyers Police Department hosts car wash fundraiser The Conyers Police Department invites the public to its ‘Grill ‘n Chill’ carwash and fundraiser Saturday, Oct. 8, at 12 p.m. at 900 Dogwood Drive, Conyers. Attendees can get a free carwash and enjoy burgers, brats and hotdogs while supplies last. Donations are appreciated and benefit the youths in the Conyers Police Explorers program. For more information about the carwash or the Explorer Program, contact Sergeant Peggy Franklin at 678-374-5603 or peggy.franklin@conyersga.gov.
Pink Pooch Parade and Festival The Pink Pooch Parade and Festival will take place Sunday, Oct. 16, 1 to 5 p.m., at the Olde Town Pavilion, 949 S. Main Street, Conyers. Bring your favorite pooch, dress in pink and raise funds to support the Atlanta 2 Day Walk for Breast Cancer. Participate in the parade, shop among the vendors, win prizes, enter the pet contest and enjoy concessions provided by Ice Days. Registration for the parade is $25. Entry to the festival area at the Olde Town Pavilion is free. Sponsored by the Pampered Puppy, Just 4 Fun Radio and Ice Days. For more information, contact Tara at the Pampered Puppy at 770-760-1494.
This week’s Coming Up was compiled by Mackenzie N. Morgan. Event details may change at any time. Please always check with the event organizer before you go. To submit your event to Coming Up, email editor@ocgnews.com. We choose events that are free or a nominal cost to our readers. Calendar events are published weekly as space permits.
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OCTOBER 8, 2016 • PAGE 5
Columbia High alums remind students they are ‘Destined to Soar’
Alumni of Columbia High School recently hosted an assembly for the Destined to Soar initiative founded by Dr. Viniece Jennings, an environmental professional who formerly interned at the White House for the Obama Administration. This is the third annual program held by the Destined to Soar Initiative. Jennings launched the program as a way to mentor and encourage students at his alma mater to achieve their goals. “The educational system plays a key role in the change we want to see in our communities,” said Jennings. “This initiative aims to improve alumni engagement and educational empowerment at the high school level.” The initiative currently involves the annual assembly, alumni posters and a service project to less fortunate students. This year’s Destined to Soar Initiative panel included Jason Frazier, David Franklin, Clint McCrary and Loreida Jennings. Frazier is a graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point who owns a business in the medical industry. Franklin is a graduate of Georgia Tech and is employed as a nuclear engineer. McCrary is the Assistant Chief of Community Supervision in Clayton County. Jennings
has a background in public administration and works with the City of Suffolk in Virginia. Jennings, who has participated in the initiative since its inception, said she believes it is important to give back to their communities. “We can’t deplete the soil that we take from, we have to give back to make the next generation strong, resilient and even more determined to succeed than those before them,” Jennings said. The panel discussed their high school journeys and a range of topics such as time management, lessons learned, and developing leadership skills. Students and teachers also had an opportunity to win raffle prizes. Many of the students who attended this year’s assembly were freshmen. They had the opportunity
Sen. JaNice VanNess to hold town hall meeting on Criminal Justice Reform
Sen. JaNice VanNess (R - Conyers) will hold a town hall meeting to discuss and review criminal justice reform and its impact on the community. The meeting will be held Monday, Oct. 10, 6 p.m., at the Rockdale Career Academy, 1064 CulpepperDrive., Conyers. The benefits of taxpayer investment in criminal justice reform programs will also be addressed. Van Ness will be joined by Sen. John F. Kennedy (R- Macon) and Appellate Court Judge Michael Boggs.
to ask questions of the panel and took a pledge where they committed to pursue educational excellence. The students received wristbands as a reminder of this vow. “I incorporated a pledge into this program because it’s important to realize that achieving your goals requires a combination of vision, focus, and dedication,” said Jennings.
Sen. Emanuel Jones to host town hall meetings
State Sen. Emanuel Jones (D - Decatur) will host a town hall meeting on Monday, Oct. 10, at Fairview Recreation Center, 7 to 8:30 p.m., 35 Austin Road, Stockbridge. He also will host a meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 18, 6 to 8 p.m., at New Life Baptist Church, 3592 Flat Shoals Road, Decatur. A wide range of issues affecting District 10 will be discussed. The meetings will focus on community updates from county commissioners, highway construction projects, Opportunity School Districts, school discipline issues, and law enforcement. The community is invited.
PAGE 6 •OCTOBER 8, 2016 WWW.OCGNEWS.COM
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GPTC bucking the trend with increased enrollment
eorgia Piedmont Technical College’s (GPTC) reported an increase of four percent over last year’s enrollment, bringing this Fall’s total to 4,088 students. “Our students realize that an opportunity to develop their skills at a technical college will produce a significant return on their investment,” said GPTC President Jabari Simama. “The uptick in our enrollment speaks to the high-quality programs we offer. The economic disparity between college graduates and those individuals who only earn a high
school diploma has never been greater. In this economy, some form of postsecondary education is essential for individuals who want to enter the middle class. I’m certain our incremental increase in enrollment this Fall is part of a larger trajectory that will carry us into next semester and beyond.” According to a report published in May of this year by CNN Money, enrollment peaked in 2010 at American colleges but attendance has declined every year since then. Community colleges and for-profit universities have experienced
the largest declines in enrollment, according to the report. GPTC is bucking that trend by ramping up its recruitment and communications strategies, and by hosting open houses that showcase its exceptional programs to potential students. “Enrollment is up on all three of our campuses,” said Dr. Ivan L. Harrell II, executive vice president, Academic and Student Affairs. “This increase is truly a college-wide effort. We’ve improved our admissions processes as well as our marketing initiatives. The college is continuing to refine its programs
so they are tailored to fit the communities we serve. We’re energized by the larger enrollments at Georgia Piedmont, having witnessed a two percent increase this past summer and a four percent increase this Fall,” Dr. Harrell concluded. With 88 nationalities represented and more than 100 languages spoken, Georgia Piedmont’s student body is diverse. The average age of GPTC students is 31 years, with 42 percent of students reporting they are the first member of their family to pursue a postsecondary credential.
New mobile app promotes carpools, alternatives to driving in metro Atlanta
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new iOS mobile app has launched to improve metro Atlanta’s air quality and congestion by boosting ridesharing across the region. Georgia Commute
Options launched the iOS GAcommuter App on Oct 3 to help commuters find and securely message potential carpool partners near their homes and workplaces. A program of the Georgia Department of Transportation, Georgia Commute Options offers cash incentives to those who usee alternative commutes such as carpooling, vanpooling, transit, telework, walking and biking. “We want to remove barriers to clean commuting,” says Phil Peevy, Georgia DOT’s Air
Quality and Technical Resource Branch Chief. “Many commuters mistakenly think they have no options for ridesharing; this app can show them that dozens of potential carpoolers live in the vicinity of their homes and workplaces — and help them contact those carpoolers directly.” As an incentive to download and use the GAcommuter app, Georgia Commute Options is offering a $5 prize to any commuter that logs 5 trips between now and March 2017. In addition, those users will be entered into a
weekly drawing for $25. Currently available on the iOS App Store, the GAcommuter Andriod version launches in early 2017. Follow Georgia Commute Options on Twitter at https://twitter.com/GACommute. Follow Georgia Commute Options on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/GeorgiaCommuteOptions. Follow Georgia Commute Options on Instagram at https:// www.instagram.com/gacommute/.
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2016 Elections: Your Voice, Your Vote
State Rep. Karen Bennett: Why vote no on OSD, Amendment 1
Parents must have a voice in our school system, says State Rep. Karen Bennett, HD 94, who is fighting to keep our schools local. Bennett is hosting Town Hall meetings this month at two locations to address questions about the referendum on Opportunity School Districts, commonly referred to as OSD. She also will be disscussing ex-offenders right to vote and other voting irregularities. Bennett will be joined by representatives from State Rep. Karen Bennett the Voter Registration and Elections Board, the South DeKalb Improvement Association (SDIA), State PTA and Keep Georgia Schools Local. The community meetings will be held on the following dates and times: Oct. 13 7 p.m. St. Paul AME Church and Worship Center, 1704 S. Stone Mountain-Lithonia Road, Lithonia, the Rev. Cheviene Jones, pastor. Oct. 17 7 p.m., Crossroads Presbyterian Church, 5587 Redan Road, Stone Mountain, the Rev. Richard Allen Farmer, pastor. For more information, visit www.Karenbennettcares.org or call 404-656-0202.
Rockdale candidates’ forums scheduled The Rockdale/Newton League of Women Voters is hosting a candidates’ forum on Oct. 13, 7 p.m., at the Rockdale Auditorium, 903 N. Main St., Conyers. The community is invited to attend both forums to learn more about the candidates and their viewpoints.
Important Dates Oct. 11: Last day to register to vote in the 2016 Presidential Election. Applications must be received or postmarked by the deadline in order to be eligible to vote. For voter registration information, visit the Secretary of State’s website, www.mvp.sos.ga.gov. Oct. 17: Advanced (in-person) voting begins Oct. 29: Mandatory Saturday Voting for the General Election Nov. 8: General Election/Special Election
OCTOBER 8,2016 • PAGE 7
Ray of Hope to host OSD panel discussion, meet the candidates
Ray of Hope Christian Church’s Social Justice Ministry will host a panel discussion on the Opportunity School District referendum on Saturday, Oct. 15, 9 a.m., Ray of Hope Christian Church, 2778 Snapfinger Road, Decatur. Former state representative Steen Miles will serve as moderator of the panel. The panel discussion will be followed by a meet-and-greet with DeKalb County candidates running for office. The community is urged to come out and learn about this important ballot issue that we will vote on in the upcoming Nov. 8 election.
The Southland community to host political forum
The Southland Owners Association is holding a political forum on Oct. 20, 6:30 p.m., at The Southland Country Club, 5726 Southland Drive, Stone Mountain. The forum is being held to educate and familiarize residents with the candidates running for office in order to make an informed decision in the upcoming election. The candidates for Chief Executive Officer are Jack Lovelace and Mike Thurmond. The candidates for Board of Commissioners District 4 are Willie J. Willis and Steve Bradshaw. The candidates for the Board of Commissioners for District 7 are Gregory Adams, Diane Daniels Adoma, George Chidi, Faye Coffield, Randal Mangham, Edward Patton, Rita Robinzine and John Tolbert Jr. State Sen. Gloria Butler will be in attendance to address the amendments on the ballot. President of Georgia Federation of Teachers Verdaillia Turner will moderate a discussion on the governor’s proposed Opportunity School District. Teresa Hardy of the DeKalb NAACP branch will recruit members for NAACP, and John Evens of Operation LEAD will be in attendance to encourage people to get out the VOTE. Organized by the Southland Board of Directors Vice President Linda Mayhand For more information, contact Delethia Foxx at the Southland office at 770-465-1329.
PAGE 8•OCTOBER 8,2016
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Stone Mountain Memorial Association, Stone Mountain Park agree to land swap The Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday approved an agreement to exchange land parcels with the Stone Mountain Memorial Association Board of Directors, which sets the stage for future economic development in Gwinnett’s southern corridor. A 24.26 acre parcel at 5525 Bermuda Road, which includes the former Olympic tennis site, would be transferred to Gwinnett County in exchange for a 34.95 acre land tract bordering the existing golf course at Stone Mountain Park. In a separate action, Gwinnett commissioners approved buying the 34.95 acre site at a cost of $1,159,885. “One of our board’s strategic initiatives is to promote economic development and redevelopment in key locations,” said Gwinnett Commission Chairman Charlotte Nash. “This site is the southern gateway into Gwinnett County along U.S. 78 from metro Atlanta and is a natural fit for redevelopment.”
According to District 3 Commissioner Tommy Hunter, the county’s plans include demolition of the tennis facilities and site preparation. “Gwinnett County will determine the best options for redeveloping the site,” Hunter said. “The site, which is strategically located at the end of a controlled access offers easy access to the interstate system and proximity to an awesome amenity in the park, both pluses for any future redevelopment.” “This is a win-win for both Gwinnett County and the Stone Mountain Memorial Association,” said District 2 Commissioner Lynette Howard. “They will get property that helps to protect existing park resources while we get a chance to revitalize this key location in southern Gwinnett County.” SMMA Board Member Perry Tindol said, “As a Gwinnett taxpayer and SMMA board member, I believe this is a good transaction for
Rockdale accepting registration for Economic Development Breakfast Series
The Conyers-Rockdale Economic Development Council (CREDC) and Conyers-Rockdale Chamber of Commerce will present the economic development breakfast series 2016. Registration is under way now for the first meeting, which will be held Tuesday, Oct. 11, 7:45 a.m. to 9 a.m., at Rockdale Medical Center East Tower, 1412 Milstead Ave., Conyers. Marty Jones of the CREDC will present the local economic overview. A work force panel and Q&A will also be conducted. Limited seating. Registration ($10 and includes breakfast) is available online at www.conyers-rockdale.com (Chamber Events). For more information, call 678-509-0133.
Emory physician to speak at GLCC breakfast In honor of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Emory’s Dr. Jean Mathew Kunjummen will speak at the upcoming October Greater Lithonia Chamber of Commerce meeting on Wednesday, Oct. 19, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. The event will be held at “This Is It” banquet facility, 2853 Panola Road in Lithonia, Georgia. Dr. Kunjummen is an assistant professor at Emory University and director of the Breast Imaging Center at Emory University Midtown Hospital (EUHM). She is also a member of the EUHM National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers (NAPBC) Steering Committee. Dr. Jean Mathew Kunjummen Her interests include breast imaging diagnosis and intervention, including MR biopsies. During this event, Dr. Kunjummen will share her expertise and educate our community on the importance of breast cancer screenings, prevention, and the latest technology available. She will also share her knowledge and insights on the importance of mammograms and why early detection is key. Join us for this informative meeting. We invite you to register to attend by visiting www.greaterlithoniachamber.com. Members are free with advance registration ($10 at the door), and guests are $20 in advance ($25 at the door).
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both the County and the association. The County obtains a property for future development in a strategic area and the association is able to further protect the boundaries of the park.” “We are proud to work with the County on this exchange of properties. The association is pleased to have an additional buffer of property that will be preserved for generations to come,” said SMMA CEO Bill Stephens. “The Evermore Community Improvement District is very excited to have this large parcel available for redevelopment and reuse,” Evermore CID Chairman Chris Garner. “Its unique location, proximity to Stone Mountain and unlimited potential will spark renewed interest in the southern part of Gwinnett County as a catalyst for significant future development.” The Stone Mountain Memorial Association is an authority of the State of Georgia, charged by law with self-sufficiently managing the state-owned Stone Mountain Park
Beulah Business Network to present vendor fair, financial workshop
Beulah Missionary Baptist Church Business Network will present “The Marketplace” on Saturday, Oct. 22, at the Beulah Community Family Life Center, 2340 Clifton Springs Road, Decatur. A vendor fair, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m., will showcase various businesses.. The event will also feature a financial planning workshop, 10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m., facilitated by a financial expert who will discuss effective strategies for financial planning.All are invited to attend.
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Tucker-Northlake CID kicks off 2017 expansion campaign
Leaders of the Tucker-Northlake Community Improvement District (CID) have set their sights on expanding their boundaries, and they have selected the team to help meet their growth goals. Nickel Works Consulting will lead an expansion campaign on behalf of the Tucker-Northlake CID. Nickel Works will commit the resources and expertise to bring new commercial properties into the district and give the CID a larger base to complete planned improvements. Nicole Hall Nicole Hall, principal and owner of Nickel Works, said the CID expansion area includes more than 430 properties for potential inclusion, and the team will seek the consent of these owners to join the district. “These properties represent more than $200 million in assessed value, which would add more than $600,000 to the CID’s revenue every year,” Hall said. “We’re going to do our best to secure support from as many of the owners as possible. The more properties that join the CID, the larger the dollar value the CID can leverage to fund improvements within the district.” The Tucker-Northlake CID currently accounts for 212 property owners representing more than $127 million in assessed value. The CID’s project priorities include improved streetscapes, better traffic signalization, additional landscaping and street cleaning as part of a larger comprehensive master plan for future enhancements. Nickel Works successfully guided multiple metro-Atlanta CIDs to add $750,000 in new permanent revenue – funding that will leverage other financial resources to plan and deliver improvements. Recently, Nickel Works helped generate the following results for CIDs: • Sugarloaf Parkway CID (Gwinnett) formed with a projected initial revenue of $189,000. • Aerotropolis CIDs (Fulton & Clayton) expanded to add new revenue of $470,000 • Gwinnett Place CID (Gwinnett) expanded to add $225,000 in revenue, over two years
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Rockdale’s SAT scores: slight decline SAT scores for high schools around the state have just been released for last year’s graduating classes. Rockdale County Public Schools (RCPS) had a slight decrease in its composite SAT score, dropping from 1,332 to 1,321. “We just received these preliminary reports and will take the necessary time to analyze our scores,” said Superintendent Richard Autry. “We are not happy with our results as we did not experience an increase such as the state average. Specifically, we will be using the PSAT scores to help guide our preparation efforts. Through a new partnership with College Board and Khan Academy, students will be given the opportunity to take targeted practice tests based on their PSAT results. This is a great opportunity for students to hone their skills by taking practice tests with instant feedback and a personalized preparation plan.” Students should be sure to complete the necessary core academic and Advanced Placement courses prior to taking college entrance exams. Often, students take these tests before they have exposed themselves to the rigor of Advanced Placement courses, which are critical to posting a high score on this type of assessment. RCPS supports its students’ aspirations to go to college and will continue to provide free SAT preparation and improved advisement to parents and students so that they may achieve this goal. RCPS has a guide for parents and students called Map Your Future, which outlines the best approach and timeline for preparing to take college entrance exams beginning at the middle school level. SAT scores cannot be significantly increased through short-term preparation programs or memorization strategies. Students must be exposed to higher level concepts, complex reading material, and sophisticated problem solving activities at an early age. As a school district, RCPS will continue to provide increased opportunities for advanced and enriched learning that exceeds that of the basic curriculum. RCPS recommends the following guidelines for students to be successful with college entrance exams: • Know which entrance exam is required by the college for which you are applying (ACT, SAT, PLAN). • Ideally, students should take entrance exams at the beginning of their senior year after successful completion of core content courses. • Students should complete at least one Advanced Placement course prior to testing. • Students in 11th grade should attend the free oneweek February Intersession SAT prep workshop. Seniors should sign up for free Saturday workshops prior to their test date. • Follow the RCPS Map Your Future, which is a basic guide for preparation beginning in middle school. All middle and high schools have copies of the guide, which can also be found at www.rockdaleschools.org/mapyourfuture DeKalb schools invite community to “Cyber Aware Family” In recognition of National Cyber Security Awareness Month, the DeKalb County School District is launching a year-long effort to educate the community on the safe use of social media and the internet. The #CyberAwareFamily effort will engage students, families, staff and the community both online and in the classroom. Using materials from The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children and other experts, the District will shed light on how misuse of the online behavior can result in serious harm for students and others. “We recognize the web and social media are fun and efficient ways of networking in our increasingly global world,” said Superintendent R. Stephen Green. “But if our young people aren’t careful about who they are contacting, they could expose themselves to dangers such as human trafficking, identify theft and more. As educators, we will take the lead in proactively helping our students and families avoid those risks.” The community is encouraged to visit the DCSD website on cyber safety – www.dekalbschoolsga.org - for more information that will be updated regularly. Social media users are asked to post or tweet photos of themselves using social media safely with the hashtag #CyberAwareFamily. Schools and staff will also continue to be educated through the district’s cyber safety educational program.
Gregory B. Levett & Sons seeks “Kidpreneurs” to feature in calendar Gregory B. Levett & Sons Funeral Homes & Crematory, Inc. plans to feature selected “Kidpreneurs” from the metro Atlanta area in the company’s 2017 calendar. “We are looking for children and young adults ages 6-21 who currently have their own business and/or have a strong passion for community outreach,” said Gregory B. Levett, Sr., founder and owner of Gregory B. Levett & Sons Funeral Homes & Crematory. “Today’s youth are making headlines by opening their own businesses right from their parents couch, taking the simple idea of a lemonade stand and making millions. Kids are technologically savvy and have a lot of great ideas that we should strive to support and provide mentorship. ” Gregory B. Levett & Sons Funeral Homes & Crematory wants to give “Kidpreneurs” a chance to shine and promote their business. To be considered, please send a headshot and biography (up to 200 words) to LevettCalendar2017@gmail.com by October 21, 2016. The sooner you submit, the better your chances are to be featured.
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DeKalb schools invite community to “Cyber Aware Family”
In recognition of National Cyber Security Awareness Month, the DeKalb County School District is launching a year-long effort to educate the community on the safe use of social media and the internet. The #CyberAwareFamily effort will engage students, families, staff and the community both online and in the classroom. Using materials from The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children and other experts, the District will shed light on how misuse of the online behavior can result in serious harm for students and others. “We recognize the web and social media are fun and efficient ways of networking in our increasingly global world,” said Superintendent R. Stephen Green. “But if our young people aren’t careful about who they are contacting, they could expose themselves to dangers such as human trafficking, identify theft and more. As educators, we will take the lead in proactively helping our students and families avoid those risks.” The community is encouraged to visit the DCSD website on cyber safety – www.dekalbschoolsga.org - for more information that will be updated regularly. Social media users are asked to post or tweet photos of themselves using social media safely with the hashtag #CyberAwareFamily. Schools and staff will also continue to be educated through the district’s cyber safety educational program.
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